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You know how hard it is to get things done when you’re hungry? Your head feels foggy, it’s impossible to retain anything, and you end up having to redo simple tasks.

Now imagine you’re a growing child who’s trying to learn new things in school. Abruptly there’s a lot more at stake than a few hours of extra work.

Sadly, that’s current realities for a huge percentage of children around the world. 66 million primary-school-aged children across the developing world go to school hungry every day . Not only does this undernutrition cause a whole host of health problems, it greatly affects their ability to keep up with their studies.

A child in school in the Philippines. All photos via Kroger.

And when children start falling behind in school, it’s a devastating spoke in the vicious wheel of poverty. Lower cognitive function usually leads to an incomplete education, which then stimulates it near impossible for them to get a higher paying task.

So even though skipping lunch may not sound like that big of a deal as an adult, to a kid, it could be the thing that keeps them from reaching a life-changing level of opportunity.

That’s why Fairtrade USA — a nonprofit that supports small farmers around the world — helped start a school feeding program in their farmers’ communities.

While it’s a newer program, it’s already making a huge change in one local school in the Philippines — a group of over 7,000 islands from which Fairtrade gets its certified organic coconuts.

Kids at a local school in the Philippines.

The school itself is quite remote — the children have to walk down long, winding, muddy roads everyday just to get there. Couple that with regularly hungry bellies, and you can only imagine what a struggle it can be for them to remain focused in class.

But since the school feeding program was implemented, their outlook and energy seems significantly improved according to visiting Kroger team members, who stock Fairtrade USA products.

The school feeding program is on track to feed approximately 1,750 kids in 60 schools in these Fairtrade farming communities. That’s a sizable step forward in the fight to give these children a chance at a better life.

But it’s not just about the kids and their futures. This program is impacting their parents in a big route, too.

The kids weren’t the only ones feeling the effects of going about their day hungry. Imagine being unable to provide your child the nutrition they need to function properly due to circumstances beyond your control. It could feel devastating.

However, thanks to the feeding program, some of that burden has been lifted off their shoulders. And when they get to see their kids revitalized and happy, it’s a real confidence boost.

A father of a child in the school feeding program conveying his elation.

This relief would not be possible without grocery store like Kroger stimulating it a priority to stock Fairtrade certified products. And when you stimulate the choice to purchase those products, you’re not only supporting an organization that empowers smaller farmers — you’re dedicating their children a a little clearer shot at a better future.

It just takes a moment to check a label, but that moment could change the course of a child’s life forever.

Do you remember the exhilaration of ensure a movie in theaters when you were young?

Those experiences can feel magical. Even the interesting thing — your ticket being torn, watching your popcorn get scooped into a bag, scouring the display case for your favorite candy, choosing the perfect seat — are all part of this meaningful and exciting ritual, especially when it’s new.

Image via iStock.

It can be easy to forget, though, that not everyone has these experiences. For instance, youth in hospitals combating serious and even life-threatening illnesses are among that group .

Going to see a movie in theaters could be only a remote memory for them.

While their friends enthusiastically talking here the new “Star Wars” movie, quoting all their favorite lines, youth in hospitals are sometimes left out , not knowing when they’ll be able to see it. And by the time the movie is released after its theater running — presuming they have access to DVDs, streaming services, or the like — the excitement often has died down, and everyone has moved on to the next blockbuster.

For young people who already feel unplugged from the outside world, it’s one more route they can feel left out .

This is something that Janis Fischer noticed when she was volunteering at her local hospital’s movie night.

On these Friday evening movie nights, the hospital would screen movies they had rented. These were always popular occasions , so in January 2001, Fischer guessed she’d up the fun and give them an extra special experience: go to the movies that was still in theaters .

Fischer was able to borrow a friend’s screening copy of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas, ” which had only just opened in theaters. The exhilaration on the hospital floor lasted for days.

That’s when Fischer had a brilliant idea — rather than making this a one-time treat, she’d find a way to bring the theater to them on a regular basis.

After an introduction from a mutual friend, she teamed up with Evelyn Iocolano, who had worked on a number of major motion pictures like “I’ll Be There” and “The Big Tease.” Joshua Gaspero, a children’s book publisher and friend of Fischer, joined the team as well.

Together, the three founded Lollipop Theater Network , a nonprofit that brings brand new films and TV series to youth in hospitals across the country .

“[ We] let them have a little bit of their childhood back, ” Iocolano explains.

Since June 2002, the Lollipop Theater Network has screened over 338 movies and TV series for hospitalized youth . And not only does it give them a stronger connection to the outside world, it energizes them and helps to lift their spirits.

“Your spirit has so much to do with your health, ” Iocolano explains. “That’s why we try to help[ them ], for a moment, try to forget what they’re going through.”

And the organization is still growing. They’re now collaborating with major production companies to arrange special celebrity visits.

Starting small contribute to big things for Lollipop. As the organization expands, so does its impact. Since its founding, Lollipop has had screenings in 18 nations around the country.

They’ve even got actors like Anne Hathaway and Craig Ferguson on their advisory boards. But it’s not the big names that induce the organization special. It’s what happens in those hospital wards when a red carpet is rolled out( yes, an actual red carpet) and everyone is smiling from ear to ear.

They also have new programming: Lollipop’s music program, Rhythm of Hope, matches youth with music professionals who help them form their own “bands, ” generate original music, and record the performances as a keepsake for families. There are also animation days, in which youth get to meet with the creators of their favorite cartoons. They’ve even had celebrities make special visits.

For Iocolano, watching how deep a movie or cartoon can affect them reminds her that giving back doesn’t always have to be a big gesture for it to matter. “People get hung up on needing to do something big all the time, ” she says. “Just start small.”

Simple things like movies and music can act as an escape from reality, even momentarily. And for youth struggling with illness, an escape like that can mean a lot.

Those happy moments keep them going, even when it gets tough. While doctors can treat the physical illnesses that someone is up against, it’s attempts like these that assistance mend their spirits.

“We raise their spirits in the hope that they can fight a lot harder, ” Iocolano says.

In a hospital ward, it’s too easy to forget there’s a great big world on the other side, especially when you see so little of it from a hospital bed. But a connection to the outside world — whether it’s movie, music, or a beloved cartoon character — can help youth thrive and remind them that there’s so much worth fighting for .

She divided glass, plastic, and cans from the regular trash — which was actually pretty revolutionary in the 1980 s, even though it’s more commonplace today. Since recycling was only just becoming a regular practice, that was the extent of her know-how.

“I didn’t grow up with the education that kids today have, in terms of their global footprint, ” Moore explains.

All photos via Garnier.

While that may be the case, her eco-friendly practises in the 1980 s actually outshine the majority of Americans’ recycling practices today.

The campaign is called Rinse, Recycle, Repeat , and it’s a recycling program that essentially teaches people how to recycle beauty products.

According to Moore, when it comes to beauty products, a lot of people don’t know what can and can’t be recycled, so they either hurl it all in the litter or to continue efforts to recycle things that can’t be collected along with recyclables like glass jars, cans, and paper.

So Garnier teamed up with TerraCycle and DoSomething.org to assistance take the guesswork out of bathroom recycling by encouraging people to collect their beauty product empties and send them to Garnier for free recycling.

In addition to changing behavior, it’s also about reminding the next generation that even little acts like this can go along way.

That’s one of the main reasons Moore’s standing behind the movement — so that simple lifestyle changes like this become phases of pride for the children of the future.

“I hope that they see something as simple as recycling simply a shampoo bottle or a face lotion bottle can really make a difference, ” Moore tells.

After all, changing our — and our children’s — recycling habits starts with one bottle and a little mindfulness.

Once you’re on the path to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, it’s easier to keep going. Just maintain reminding yourself that your actions can( and will) change the world.

Thankfully, we live in a time when information is always at our fingertips, so we’re even more capable of biding on top of eco-friendly trends.

“I think it’s our responsibility to stay informed and to figure out new and sort of innovative ways that we can contribute because we are all connected, ” Moore says.

And since the younger generations are all about taking action in the face of uncertainty, research will no doubt rapidly be transformed into noticeable change. It’s important to keep encouraging that activism as much as we are capable of.

But making changes isn’t simply on their shoulders. We need to be much more conscious of where our trash objective up. It’s not just about our children’s future. Climate change is in out midst, but our efforts today have the power to positively impact our future.

To learn more about the Rinse, Recycle, Repeat campaign, check out this video :

When you think of teenagers, “grateful” is probably not the first word that comes to mind.

In fact, adolescents often have the opposite reputation — spoiled, entitled, and selfish. Fittingly, advice for parents of teenagers frequently focuses on how to deal with bad attitudes.

However, labeling all teens inherently ungrateful isn’t entirely accurate. Many adolescents actually do appreciate their parents’ hard work, whether it’s cooking, doing their laundry, or helping them analyze for next morning’s algebra test. Of course, it might be hard to see that gratitude, especially when teens are busy hanging out with friends, texting at the dinner table, or slamming the occasional bedroom door during a discrepancy.

Photo via iStock.

So, for mothers who are now feeling doubtful about whether or not their children appreciate their hard work, here are five stories of teens who were just waiting for the right moment to present their gratitude.

1. Without fund for a gift, this single mom’s daughter made a touching gesture .

When Kira Allen’s daughter Vivian was 17 years old, Kira didn’t guess she’d be get a gift for Mother’s Day.

“As a single mom, I’ve always done my best to satisfy our necessities, ” the California mom explains. She liked to cook for her kids, especially her delicious homemade blueberry-apple crisp.

But that year, Kira says, “We were too transgressed for gifts.”

Kira was just returning to work after medical leave for issues including severe anemia, sleep apnea, and a high risk for stroke. She’d originally merely planned to take 2 week off, but once she got to the bottom of her medical wants, she realized she was in “a battle for survival, ” so her medical leave went on for another three and a half months.

However, even though they were short on money, Vivian didn’t wishes to frustrate her mama by leaving her empty-handed on Mother’s Day, especially after the year she’d had. So, she wrote Kira a heartfelt note .

Vivian’s note to her mom. Image via Kira Allen.

“Dear Queen, ” she began. “Without you there is nothing. No sunshine , no moon , no stars — in my world.”

Today, Vivian is 23 years old and away at college, and she’s missing her mom’s blueberry-apple crisp. But her note is still where she left it, on her mom’s nightstand. “It still means more to me than anything she could have ever bought, ” Kira says .

2. A tattoo ran from giving a father a scare to being his greatest gift .

Photo via iStock.

In April 2018, Richard, a papa from New Jersey, thought he was get the shock of their own lives when his 18 -year-old son Jonathan sent him this text: “Guess what dad I’m getting a tattoo.”

Richard worried that Jonathan was making a rash decision. However, when he saw what his son selected for his new ink, he was surprised in the best way. Jonathan’s tattoo was a situated of Roman numerals marking the working day that his fathers adopted him.

“I was so taken aback, ” Richard told the parenting website Homosexuals With Kids. Jonathan was 5 years old when he was adopted, and as the years passed, his father wondered if he’d forgotten the date. But now, Jonathan’s first tattoo will always remind him that his son is forever thankful for the working day they became a family .

3. This daughter’s personalized messages to her mommy fit every occasion.

Sarah Davis( left) with her mother, LaTonya. Photo by Holly Pohl Photography, used in conjunction with permission.

Sarah Davis was 17 years old on Mother’s Day in 2017, and she wanted to give her mommy, LaTonya, something unique — a gift LaTonya could enjoy for years to come.

Sarah had recognized the sacrifices that her mom built for her while growing up. In fact, as a teen, she had even begun taking on some of LaTonya’s household tasks herself in order to give her mama a little extra assist. For instance, when LaTonya was having a bad day, Sarah would clean the refrigerator, the pantry, or other common areas.

But to do something very special for Mother’s Day, Sarah wrote a collect of personalized notes along with instructions on which note to read when, such as “when you need a smile, ” “when you can’t sleep, ” and “when you’re missing me.”

As soon as “shes seen” the instructions, LaTonya had a touching realization: Her daughter must have set a lot of supposed into this gift.

Sarah’s instructions for her gift to her mama. Image via LaTonya Davis.

“I haven’t opened all of the notes yet because I feel like it’s the gift I don’t ever want to end, ” LaTonya says.

She continues, “[ Sarah] regularly shows expressed appreciation for all of the opportunities afforded to her , but this reminded me that she sees me not only as a mommy but as a whole person . “

4. A birthday gift got one mom’s unique wants exactly right .

“Birthdays have always been a source of conflict for me, ” Asha Rajan tells.

Growing up, she was raised to believe that being a girl or a woman entail inducing yourself “small” by avoiding drawing attention to yourself. She carried that notion into parenting, often sacrificing her own moments of celebration to make sure her kids received attention instead of herself.

And that’s exactly what stimulated Asha’s 2018 birthday so memorable — her teenage sons, Nik and Milan, got the celebration just right . The day included breakfast by Nik, an ice cream cake with candles, and a homemade card that Milan decorated with a painting he’d built in fifth grade.

Asha with her sons, Milan( left) and Nik( right ), in 2014. Image via Asha Rajan.

“Having my teens recognise[ my] quandary and celebrate me with love and humor while still not making it too much about me attained “i m feeling” understood, ” she tells .

“I adore being the mother of teens — all the smelly athletics clothes and wet stinky towels notwithstanding! ”

5. This college freshman’s sweet tribute to his dad went viral in his first week of school .

Every year since kindergarten, Charles Brockman III’s first day of school started off the same. His parents, Sherry and Charles Jr ., would stroll him into school and take a photo.

At times, he found the tradition embarrassing( especially while in high school ), but once he left home for the first time to go to college, he actually missed his parents’ annual showing of support and encouragement.

So after the 17 -year-old settled into his new dorm room as a freshman at Mississippi State University, Charles wanted to say a simple thanks. He tweeted side-by-side photos of his father walking him to school, along with the words, “From the first day of kindergarten to college move in. Thank you dad.”

By the time class started, his tribute had been retweeted more than 64,000 days and liked more than 263,000 times.

“[ My mothers] have pretty much supported me in everything I do, ” Charles told NBC News a couple of weeks later. “Knowing that makes me want to be successful and attain them proud. I don’t mind sharing that.”

No matter how big or small, a teen’s gesture of appreciation is a reminder to parents everywhere that their love, care, and sacrifice has huge meaning .

Image via iStock.

And children aren’t the only ones who’d like to celebrate all of the hard-working parents out there. Whirlpool has created “Congrats, parents” as part of its Every day, care( r) campaign in order to share uplifting messages for the parents of the class of’ 18.

After all, the class of’ 18 wouldn’t have constructed it to graduation day without the sacrifices that so many parents make for their children. Throughout the journey towards graduation, those parents have set their time toward preparing their kids’ snacks, building sure they always had clean clothes, and maintaining the house in order along the way.

That’s why, even when teenagers are caught up in their own lives or when they don’t have money for lavish gifts, they can still find unique ways to uncover just how much they care about their parents. These gestures can appear when you least expect it — which, in turn, induces them all the more meaningful.

When 9-year-old Sophina Lindquist satisfied the University of Nebraska at Kearney softball team, it was love at first sight.

The team was in Sophina’s hometown of St. Cloud, Minnesota, for an away game and happened to stop at the Red Robin where Sophina and their own families were feeing.

She was immediately enamored with them, and apparently the impression was mutual.

“We see this little blond daughter in the vestibule, and instantly there was a connection, ” recollects head coach Holly Carnes.

Sophina( in the red coat) with the team. All photos via Upworthy/ Red Robin.

In fact, they liked her so much, they devoted her a ball that the entire squad had signed. Sophina promptly expended the rest of the day and the night cuddling with it.

It wasn’t simply Sophina’s smile that won over the team. She exudes light and generosity even though she’s had to deal with quite a lot for someone so young.

Before she was 5 months old, Sophina had six surgeries, including open-heart surgery. She was also diagnosed with Down disorder, a genetic disorder that can affect a person’s mental and physical development.

However , none of these medical issues seem to have had any consequence whatsoever on her strength of spirit.

“She’s tough as nails, ” says her mom, Connie.

“Children with special needs are just like all the other children who have strengths and weaknesses, ” Connie continues.

And some of Sophina’s strengths are that she is extremely friendly and outgoing. She regularly bakes cookies for first responders in her hometown, and she knows almost all of them, in over 20 departments, by name.

That’s also why Sophina was so determined to visit her new softball squad friends — but regrettably, their own families couldn’t afford to stimulate the trip-up from Minnesota to Nebraska.

That’s when Red Robin stepped in.

They were so taken with her tale that the company decided to arrange for her to take a trip to see her favorite dames in blue in action.

Sophina on her way to Nebraska.

And she wasn’t just going to see the last game of the season; Sophina was going to toss out the first pitch.

The trip was a treat for the whole family, who had never been able to take a vacation together before then.

According to her mom, Sophina couldn’t contain her exhilaration over getting to hang with her favorite players again. And, according to their coach, the UNK Lopers felt the same way.

“Oh my gosh, they have been talking about it all week, ” Carnes tells.

When the reunion finally happened, it was quite the emotional explosion.

Sophina really got to feel like one of the team.

And, of course, toss out her very first ball in a college game.

It’s likely to be a day she won’t soon forget.

Sophina’s disability isn’t holding her back. She goes after her dreams at full speed.

“People can set children with Down syndrome into this square box, and there really is no square box for children with special requires, ” Connie explains.

Different levels of ability shouldn’t separate one group of people from another. Differences can build us stronger, extraordinary someones, and the more people who recognize that, the sooner that so-called “box” will disappear.

Learn more about Sophina’s adventure with the UNK softball team here :

14 days after finishing a 20 -year sentence in prison, Bilal Coleman appeared on video in an unlikely set: a garden full of fresh herbs .

With this, Coleman kicked off his video diary project called “The Freedom Chronicles, ” which documented his first year out of prison.

He doesn’t say much in that first video, which was filmed in December 2015. His mentor, another formerly incarcerated human named Anthony Forrest, shares the names of various plants around them. He promotes Coleman to break off pieces and reek the rosemary and basil — the odor of which, Coleman tells, reminds him of his grandma.

These were Coleman’s first experiences of life outside of prison since he was a teenager — and most people in his place wouldn’t dream of sharing something so personal with the world.

Coleman meets goats on his 11 th day out of prison. All images politenes of Planting Justice.

For most people, the first year out of prison is a fight. After incarceration, many have trouble observing stable undertakings, accessing basic needs like healthy food, and transitioning back to daily life on the outside.

Coleman was merely 17 years old when he was sentenced to 20 years at San Quentin State Prison — so at 37, he didn’t precisely have a ton of work experience. Like so many others returning to their communities after incarceration, he faced the world with the odds stacked against him.

But when he got out, he had a good reason to start filming his journey — a job waiting for him at an organization called Planting Justice.

Planting Justice is an Oakland-based nonprofit that empowers people to grow their own food. In 2009, when co-founders Gavin Raders and Haleh Zandi launched the organization, they wanted to support people who are most affected by issues such as poverty and a lack of access to nutritional food. And they couldn’t think of a better style to do that than hiring people who, like Coleman, are leaving prison.

“We really wanted to build the world that we want and want, and focus on answers, ” says Gavin Raders, executive director of Planting Justice.

The organization offers a living wage and full benefits to all of its staff — an opportunity that’s all too rare for people with criminal records . Since its start in 2009, the Planting Justice team of landscapers has built over 450 edible gardens around the Bay Area.

Today, they apply about 35 full-time staff members, and merely over half — including Coleman — are formerly incarcerated .

FreshLo is all about supporting run that leverages creative, neighborhood-based food enterprises for community growth, and these Bay Area gardens are brilliant instances.

The Planting Justice edible gardens grow in unlikely places — empty plenties, schools, and concrete neighborhoods that don’t have fresh make or green spaces for miles.

About 100 of the gardens they’ve constructed so far have been free or on a sliding scale, with fees depending on income, for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford them.

A Planting Justice garden begins to grow at a juvenile detention center.

In spite of his inexperience, it turns out that Coleman is actually the perfect fit for this work . He’s from the very communities that Planting Justice serves and can relate to their struggles on a personal level.

“You try to instill a life ability within the youth, but what you don’t understand is you’ll receive one as well, ” he shares in the video for his 200 th day out of prison.

Planting Justice has a success rate of virtually 100%. In nine years of existence, merely one formerly incarcerated staff member has returned to jail.

What began as a simple landscaping service now includes education programs, farmer train, and a holistic re-entry program to help former prisoners transition back to a stable life.

And in 2017, after a lot of hard work and the help of over 900 donors, Planting Justice acquired a 2-acre plot of land to open up a nursery and farm. Rolling River Nursery offer landscaping services to the neighborhood, and ships plants, herbs, and trees all over the country. It’s located in deep East Oakland, California, in an area called Sobrante Park, which is known for having some of the highest rates of unemployment and crime in Oakland.

Sobrante Park is precisely the kind of place that needs green undertakings like the ones Planting Justice makes, and Raders hopes that similar neighborhoods throughout the country can replicate their model.

This time, Coleman’s the one naming the plants, and he’s much more outgoing than he was when he started. His smile incandescences as he presents viewers his work, including the gardens he tends daily and a high school where he passes his abilities on to youth.

“I feel overjoyed! ” he exclaims about beating the odds by flourishing in his first year out of prison.

It’s clear that he’s gained some abilities, including newfound abilities in public speaking, youth education, and analyzing issues like economic and environmental injustice that affect the communities where he lives and works.

Coleman on his 365 th day of freedom.

Coleman’s narrative shows how an opportunity to thrive after prison going to be able to lift up a whole community .

Coleman was still is currently working on Planting Justice at the time of this writing. He also enjoys spend time with his two children, and he’s developed a passion for health and personal fitness.

On top of fresh food, vital skills, and an opportunity to escape the cycle of mass incarceration, the formerly incarcerated staff member get a chance to help lead these initiatives to transform their neighborhoods .

At the end of his last video, Coleman grins as he seems over the results of his hard work.

“Seasons pass, tomatoes are run, the chard has popped back up like the springtime, ” he says. “That’s resilience.”

When Jacob was merely 3 years old, his mom noticed that he was acting a little differently than his siblings had at that age.

He had started to develop certain habits and propensities that were somewhat flustering to his family. By the time he turned 5, his pediatrician had diagnosed him with autism.

But after that, his behavioral issues only got worse.

All photos via Dignity Health.

Not merely was he falling behind academically, he started acting out uncontrollably in class. One time, he had such a bad tantrum that the students had to be evacuated from the classroom while members of the faculty subdued him.

His teacher ensure enormous potential in Jacob, but she was unable to get through to him.

“He’s a brilliant child, he has great notions, ” she tells, “Putting that on paper is really hard.”

His mother, Erika, felt similarly.

“I know he felt alone, and he didn’t know how to express himself well enough to have us even understand how it was impacting him, but we could see it in his face, ” Erika explains.

She felt at the end of her rope. She knew she had to do something new to help him since what they were currently doing didn’t seem to be working.

And he made a surprising suggestion — maybe Jacob’s autism diagnosis was wrong?

“Erika’s main concern was does my child have autism, but it wasn’t genuinely my leading believe, ” Katz says.

Katz with Jacob and his mom.

While this second opinion was certainly momentous, it’s not all that strange given this country’s pre-occupation with autism.

Studies have shown that ever since researchers started tracking autism rates in the United States in 2000, the number of cases has risen dramatically, almost in tandem with the growing awareness. This suggests that it’s more likely to come up as a possible diagnosis simply because it’s on parents’ and doctors’ radars.

Thankfully, however, Katz is very discerning. He listened intently to what both Erika and Jacob had to say and came to a totally different conclusion than what they’d heard in the past.

Katz told Erika he thought her son actually had a severe instance of attention deficit hyperactive disorder( ADHD ).

He also said that Jacob’s behavioral issues is very likely to resolve once he was on the right drug.

Sure enough, within just a few days of being properly medicated, Jacob’s behavior totally turned around. He began talking more articulately and focusing on undertakings. His experience at school changed; he was more social, he was able to deal with letdowns in much more constructive ways, and his academic performance improved significantly.

The switch was truly amazing for everyone who cared about him to behold.

“For a while with the diagnosis of autism, we were wondering if Jacob would ever be able to live on his own or get a undertaking, ” Erika remarks. “And now, he’s capable of taking care of himself, and I actually don’t question that anymore.”

Of course , not all diagnoses are misdiagnoses, but sometimes it’s worth getting a second opinion, especially when you’re dealing with unfamiliar territory.

For Jacob’s family, the move was life-changing. Anyone who’s met him can see that.

“He’s compassionate, he’s intelligent, he’s thoughtful, he’s organized, which is amazing for someone with the diagnosis he has, ” Jacob’s teacher says. “In the future, I believe Jacob can do whatever he wants. I think he’ll be just fine.”

SreyRam Kuy was 2 years old when the refugee camp where her family had been staying was bombed.

During the bombing, both she and her mom were hit by shrapnel. She lost her ear in the explosion, and her mother’s wounds would’ve likely been fatal without proper medical attention, but thankfully, Red Cross doctors came to their aid, saving both SreyRam’s ear and her mom’s life.

Even though she doesn’t remember much of the experience, the story’s become an integral part of her family’s history. It’s also why SreyRam chose to dedicate her life to helping others as a doctor.

Not merely did she become the first female Cambodian refugee to work as a surgeon in the United States, but she regularly performs free and low-cost surgeries for people in need. She also partners with Dog Tag Bakery — an organization that gives jobs and necessary work experience to disable veterans.

What’s more, as chief medical officer for the nation of Louisiana, she supervised the first state-led Zika prevention program for pregnant women in the United States.

SreyRam is just one of 10 extraordinary women who were chosen as L’Oreal Paris’ 2017 Women of Worth Honorees.

Since 2005, the brand has selected women who are making a major impact in their communities through their passion for volunteerism and philanthropy. Each Honoree receives a $10,000 grant for their charitable cause, as well as recognition of their work through L’Oreal Paris’ Women of Worth.

Past Honorees have been everything from anti-bullying advocates to supporters of victims of human trafficking to self-defense trainers . It genuinely doesn’t matter what kind of charitable work you do, just as long as it’s making a positive impact on your community.

There are so many females out there who’re making a huge difference but aren’t get any recognition for it. This program is trying to change that.

Want to nominate someone to be a Woman of Worth? Here’s what you need to know:

Candidates must be women who are legal residents of the 50 United States and 16 years or older at the time of nomination. Their philanthropic work must also have occurred within the United States, and their participation needs to have been ongoing for at the least six months. If it’s filling a previously unmet need in an innovative route and making a significant difference in their community, it’s worthy.

It’s fine if the woman you have in intellect get paid for her work as long as she’s working for a nonprofit or a national service program like AmeriCorps. However, she should have a noticeable passion for what she does that’s inspiring others to follow suit.

Photo via iStock.

If you think you know someone who fits the bill, go to the Women of Worth site or click here to sign up and submit an application form. You can also submit the sort by sending it in the mail to 😛 TAGEND

“Women of Worth Award” c/ o The Phases of Light Institute

600 Means Street, Suite 210

Atlanta, GA 30318

If you think you’d make a great honoree yourself, you can absolutely hurl your name into the ring!

Whoever you decide to nominate, you better do it soon, because the submission period ends May 31, 2018.

Once all the nominees are submitted, the magistrates will constrict it down to a group of finalists.

That’s where the final 10 nominees are selected — and where you come back in .

In November, you can see the listing of 2018 Honorees online and vote on one to be named the Woman of Worth National Honoree. This woman will receive an additional $25,000 for her charity of option, along with national recognition for her cause . But every honoree will get an all-expense paid trip-up to New York City for the awards ceremony, where they’ll fulfill many notable women who are also working towards social good.

Sounds pretty awesome, huh?

It’s time the world acknowledges these unsung philanthropy superheroes, but it’s on you to stimulate that happen.

Every spring, Dan Berman and his son Matan had a tradition: They would travel to the coast of Florida for the major league spring educate games.

The training games were an especially fun journey, as fans could get up close and personal with their favorite players. Dan and Matan also love traveling together, and video games were a perfect excuse to drive along the coast.

One year, however, things didn’t precisely go as planned.

The Braves, Matan’s favorite team, had started requiring people to pay money to talk with the players.

“He was incensed by this, ” tells Dan. “He was into the spiritual side of baseball.[ He believed] that everyone should have access.”

So, rather than give up on talking to his favorite player Eddie Perez, Matan stubbornly sat in the bullpen for an hour, watching the pitchers and catchers warming up. And when Perez came out, Matan started screaming, trying to get his attention, and asked to throw a ball his route. To Dan and Matan’s surprise, it worked: Perez signed one and hurled it right to a beaming Matan.

In that moment, Dan could not have been prouder. Assuring his son’s fearless determination, even at merely 12 years old, offered him a glimpse into the adult Matan would one day be. He was someone who believed that no one should be left out, regulations be damned — not in baseball, and not in life. It was moments like these, thought Dan, that constructed being a parent so special.

But parenting isn’t just about these wonderful experiences. It’s hard work, especially when you’re a father to three rambunctious sons.

They hadn’t even necessarily planned on having three kids, but after the second, Dan’s wife wanted a girl, so they decided to have one more. Of course, they wound up with another boy.

With three energetic boys now running around the house, it could get overwhelming, Dan tells. “There is always so much to do around a house with three boys that those parts of our history are almost a blur.” The laundry, the cook, the dishes, the late night homework assignments — it may come with the territory of being a mother, but that didn’t make it any easier .

Even get the boys to help mow the lawn was a challenge in itself. “I[ had to] pull the lawn mower out, fill it with gas and start it to get their attention, ” Dan jokes.

But it was important to Dan that the boys assistance around the house, and that included helping him with the laundry when they were old enough.

“When we give our kids everything , teaching them the basics in life, like doing laundry, mowing the lawn, seem like such simple things , ” he says. ” But these lessons may be more impactful than of the organized group activities they participated in as kids . “

Parenting involves sacrifices, too — Dan loves to cook, but he didn’t have much hour for it as a Dad . “I didn’t do that much cooking when the kids were younger other than unhealthy child fare.” The dinners that are fun to cook for an aspiring home cook aren’t inevitably what a kid wants to eat — especially compared to macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and other child classics.

That said, there was one thing he could attain that they’d feed: eggs. “I am the egg expert in the house[ though ], ” he tells. “I can make an egg any possible style a young son could want it.”

Finding calm in the center of that chaos was one of the big challenges of parenting, and he didn’t always get it right. But no matter the challenge — whether it was a picky eater or an algebra assigning — Dan always detected a way to make it work.

Image via Whirlpool

This May, Matan will eventually don a cap and gown and walk across the stage to get his high school diploma . Dan, along with hundreds of other proud parents, reminded once more of the determination that brought them there, the sacrifices they made along the way, and the young adults their children have grown into.

This will be a proud moment for Dan, but also bittersweet, as both begin a new chapter — Matan is headed for a gap year abroad in Israel, and Dan will be left with an empty nest.

Of course, this change comes with challenges, but Dan’s aroused to focus on who he’d like to become.

“I’m ready. I do have mixed emotions, ” Dan says. “I’ll be sad and I’ll have tears, but I’m ready for the next stage of life.”

While “empty nest syndrome” isn’t a clinical diagnosis, a last infant leaving home can still have a mental health impact, like any major life event. An empty nest can sometimes leave mothers feeling lonely or anxious. It can even feel like they’re mourning a loss .

But Dan knows the best way to prepare for a transition like this is to just dive right in.

His advice? “Start to prepare by changing routines[ and] trying to find different ways to fulfill their own lives, ” he explains. “I’ve always had other interests! I exercise a lot, I love to cook, I like to go mountain biking and things like that. I plan to only do more of it.”( And now, of course, Dan will get to be more than just an “egg specialist, ” cooking the meals that he enjoys most .)

There are plenty of ways to encourage that kind of transformation, too. Whether it’s reconnecting with a spouse, or discovering a new passion, mothers can turn their sorrow into motivation to lead more independent, fulfilling lives.

Many parents view caregiving as an important part of their identity — but an empty nest allows them to concentrate on who they are apart from what they do for their children. “Use some of that freed space to reflect on[ your own] needs and wellbeing, ” Banks explains.

Transitions like high school graduation can also be the perfect day for kids to celebrate everything their parents do.

Even the little things — like getting dinner on the table, scrubbing stubborn grass stains out of that baseball jersey, or helping with algebra homework — all had an important part to play in getting grads in the cap and gown, though they can sometimes run unrecognized. While graduation is a rite of passage for teens, in many ways, it’s one for parents, too .

That’s why Whirlpool has created “Congrats, parents” as part of its Every day, care( r) campaign. By sharing meaningful, uplifting messages for parents of the class of’ 18, they’re celebrating the mothers whose run often runs unappreciated 😛 TAGEND

“It’s one of the most challenging and rewarding tasks I’ve ever had.[ And] it never, ever, ever goes according to plan, ” Dan giggles . “[ Matan is] a wonderful, wonderful kid with challenging 18 -year-old propensities. I don’t have any doubt that he’s going to be a success in life.”

While walking across that stage will be an unforgettable moment for the graduate class of 2018, it’s no less momentous for the parents who supported them along the way. And the chapter ahead can be filled with arousing new escapades for both of them.

Imagine your childhood neighborhood. Now imagine waking up one morning to a bulldozer ready to plow it down.

Plenty of people would, understandably, have an emotional reaction at the idea that the place they grew up was about to be torn to the ground.

For some, a city full of little boutiques and expensive coffee shop is the ultimate sign of progress and growth. But for the people who have lived there much longer — whose homes stood long before the frozen yogurt and the motorcycle lanes — this can be a painful process.

As the face of their neighborhood transforms, the cost of living is driven up, often causing longtime residents to lose their homes and, along with it, their connection to a place and its history .

But does revitalizing a neighborhood have to mean erasing its history? In the Westside neighborhood of Covington, Kentucky, the answer is a echoing “no.”

Photo by Annie O’Neill, provided by the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington.

Covington once looked like any other casualty of urban flight, as residents began to move from the city to the suburbium for a variety of reasons. Then a state highway was expanded ten years ago, dividing the city’s Westside neighborhood right down the middle. This contributed to disinvestment in the area, as historic builds fell into disrepair and the value of homes began to fall. Before long, Covington was a city in deterioration.

But instead of getting deterred, community members and organizations began to mobilize to save their city .

One organization in particular — the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington — had a vision for change. And unlike many revitalization efforts elsewhere, they didn’t want Covington to become unrecognizable. In fact, they wanted the exact opposite.

Photo by Annie O’Neill, provided by the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington.

Rather than treating Covington like a blank slate for foreigners to change, they turned to the existing community to reclaim the city they loved.

They tried something called “creative placemaking, ” which promotes creative and artistic efforts to strengthen a community from within. And they did this by get their own local artists involved.

Photo by Annie O’Neill.

Kate Greene, program administrator of community development at the Center, says that Covington had everything it needed all along. “It has a makers’ history, ” she explains. “[ There’s] a ton of artists — whether they define themselves as artists or not.”

The Westside had an abundance of ingenuity — be it storytelling, statue, ceramics, or stained glass — just waiting to be tapped into. “We’re actually trying to take that and bring it to the surface again, ” Greene explains.

Photo by Annie O’Neill.

For example, the Center worked with a local artist to coordinate a community dinner that included a stenciled newspaper tablecloth that attendees could write on. Residents were asked about their neighborhoods and how to stimulate them better — focusing on access to fresh food in particular — and they responded directly on the tablecloth.

In this style, the Center was able to reach residents who might otherwise not share. “[ It was] to get other people’s voices … who maybe weren’t inclined to raise their hand or speak up, ” tells Greene .

Photo by Stacey Wegley, provided by the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington.

It was these voices, many of whom were engaged for the first time, that began to transform Covington.

These funds allowed them to teach class, rehab historic homes, coordinate community events, create artists’ studios, and most importantly, build lasting connections, with a particular focus on the Westside neighborhood.

“A lot of people[ think] it’s just murals and sculptures and mosaics … but in our run, that’s truly not important to us, ” Greene explains. “How did you construct that statue together? What connects were stimulated? Who was making decisions? Did new leaders surface? All of those parts are the key.”

Tatiana Hernandez, Senior Program Officer at the Kresge Foundation, agrees. “Creative approaches are needed to meaningfully address the systemic barriers facing low-income residents, ” she explains. “[ We can] give residents a sense of agency, and contribute to the narrative of a place.”

Photo by Stacey Wegley.

“[ It’s] a route to build pride in the community, ” Greene adds.

These efforts have allowed the neighborhood to hold onto its identity and history, even as the city changes.

That identity is what stimulates Covington unique.

“I don’t[ want] Covington to lose its identity and become gentrified, ” tells Tashia Harris, a lifetime resident and community consultant for the Center. “I like the beautiful mix of cultures that I’m surrounded by here, and creative placemaking[ is] helping Covington keep its identity.”

Photo by Stacey Wegley.

Your childhood neighborhood might not have had a gourmet sandwich shop. But perhaps it had a corner store stocked with your favorite soda or an old Victorian house on the corner that always reminded you of a palace. Maybe it had a barber that cut your hair for the first time or a rec center where you learned to swim.

Revitalizing a city doesn’t have to mean losing what makes it special. And in Covington, Kentucky, it’s places just like these — and the history they hold — that make it still feel like home.